Opposing 3-4 Points

  Difficulty: Advanced   Keywords: Opening
[Diagram]

Symmetry creates tension

This formation has been studied over centuries, because first-player advantage is large. (In Japanese these parallel 3-4 points are called mukai komoku.)

[Diagram]

Approach plays

This is a normal development. White breaks the symmetry in order not to play into White a, Black b which is an ideal double-purpose play of pincer combined with extension. Now we expect a pincer to be played by Black in the right-hand corner. At c has been well explored, but d and e are played now. Yang Yilun recommends f (in How to Destroy and Preserve).

In the background is the press at g for Black.

In Edo period theory the high approach at W4 wasn't yet widely played, so that the initial formation was generally avoided. Of course White could play out the left-hand corner instead, but the feeling is that an approach is a little more urgent.


[Diagram]

A modern pattern

This is quite a popular diagonal fuseki in professional Go. Black plays into mukai komoku on the theory that White will take the fourth corner, leaving Black with sente on the left side.

Charles Matthews


This is a copy of the living page "Opposing 3-4 Points" at Sensei's Library.
(OC) 2004 the Authors, published under the OpenContent License V1.0.
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